Container closure



July 6, 1965 J. RAVN 3,193,128

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed June 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Z JACOBRAVN WW BY ATTYS.

July 6, 1965 J. RAVN 3,193,128

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed June 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7.

mveuvon. JACOB RAVN July 6, 1965 I J. RAVN 3,193,128

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed June 12; 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR: JACOBRAVN ATTYS.

July 6, 1965 J. RAVN 3,193,128

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed June 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORZ JACOBRAVN ATTYS.

United States Patent Office 3,193,128 Patented July 6, 1965 3,193,128CONTAINER CLOSURE .laceb Ravn, Phoenixviile, Pa., assignor to The WestCompany, Phoenixviile, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 12,1962, Ser. No. 291,846 16 Claims. (Cl. 21542) This invention relates toan improvement in closures for pharmaceutical containers or bottles ofthe general type shown in my prior application entitled Cap Structurefor Bottles, Serial No. 100,636, filed on April 4,

I 1961 now Patent No. 3,017,274, issued January 1, 1963.

This is a continuation-in-part application of my copending applicationentitled Container Closure, filed July 13, 1961, and bearing Serial No.123,782 now abandoned.

My prior container closure consists of a stopper and a tamper-proof capmember of sheet metal such as aluminum having a top including an outerannular portion and an inner removable disc portion disposed centrallyof the annular portion and detachably connected-to the annular portionby fracturable bridge members. A cover member overlies the top of themetal cap and is connected to the disc portion so that removal of thecover member functions to fracture the bridge members and detach thedisc from the cap. Although this prior cap is useful for the purposesintended, it is not entirely satisfactory since it is somewhat expensiveto manufacture and when the disc portion is removed, the portions of thesevered bridge segments remaining on the annular portion have roughedges which may present a hazard to the user.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-proofcap and cover for pharmaceutical containers or bottles which normally issecured in place against accidental displacement yet may be easily andsafely removed to permit access to the contents of the container whendesired and wherein no rough or sharp edges are produced by removal ofthe cover which may present a risk of injury to the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-proof capand cover which is comprised of comparatively few parts and is of asimplified construction which is easy and economical to manufacture.

More specifically, the closure of the present invention includes a metalcap having an opening in the top thereof and a tamperroofcover memberwhich overlies the cap opening and is detachably secured to the cap byfracturable means on the cover which are interlocked with the metal capso that the cover normally is secured in place yet may be readilydetached when desired.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the cover member has atleast a portion thereof disposed ad jacent the outer periphery of thecap so that the user may support the bottle in one hand and disengage ordetach the cover with the thumb of the hand by exerting pressure on thecover away from the cap sufficient to fracture the locking means andthereby detach the cover from the cap.

By this one-piece, tamper-proof construction, the cover member may beremoved by a one-hand operation and there are no rough or sharp edgesproduced on the cap by removal of the cover member as in my priorclosure. In certain forms of the invention the cover member embraces thetop peripheral portion of the cap in a manner to provide a seal againstdirt and other foreign matter.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention and the various detailsof the construction and arrangement thereof are hereinafter more fullydescribed and set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a container closure in accordance with thepresent invention secured in position on a bottle;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the container closure andneck of the bottle;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing detailsof the construction of an embodiment of container closure in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container closure with aportion thereof broken away prior to its assembly to the bottle;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section of thecontainer closure of FIG. 5

FIG. 6a is a side elevational view partly in section of the cover memberand cap of the container closure shown in the above figures prior toassembly to one another;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the removal of thecover member;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of another em.- bodiment ofcontainer closure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of another form of containerclosure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section of stillanother embodiment of container closure in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-45 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section of afurther embodiment of container closure in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15--15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a transverse sectional view of the cover member and cap ofthe container closure of FIGS. 14-16 inclusive prior to assembly to oneanother;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view partly in section of a still furtherembodiment of container closure in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken on line 1919 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view partly in section of the cover memberand cap of the container closure of' FIGS. 18 and 19 prior to assembly;and

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 20.

Referring to the drawings, in the illustrated embodiments of theinvention reference numeral 10 designates generally a container orbottle of conventional form, a portion of which is shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, a stopper 12, which may be formed of rubber or likematerial, has a hollow plug portion 14 adapted to fit tightly within theneck 16 of the bottle and a top portion 18 which overlies the end of thebottle neck and seats against 20 of the bottle neck ring. The plug 14 isrecessed interiorly as shown to provide a central thin wall portion 22which may be pierced, for example, by the needle of a hypodermic syringeto gain access to the bottle contents. The st-opper 12 may be of anyconventional form and the present invention is not concerned with the Aparticular form employed. 7

The stopper 12, whether in the form just described or otherwise, issecured in place in closing relation with respect to the neck openingin' the bottle by means of a novel construction and arrangement of a,cap and cover member which is the subject matter of the presentinvention. The cap as shown at 24 in the drawings is preferably of sheetmetal, such as aluminum and comprises an annular top portion 33 having acentral opening 32 therein, and a depending peripheral flange or skirt26, the edge portion of which is adapted to he crimped or spun inwardlyas indicated at 28 to engage below'an extreme shoulder 29, on the bottleneck. The tamper-proof cover member 39 overlies the central openingin'the. cap, and is detachably secured thereto by fracturable meanswhich interlock the cover member and cap' together. According to thepresent invention, the fracturable interlocking means is formed as anintegral part of the cover member and depends from the underside of thecoverv member and interlockingly engages with the cap as hereinafterdescribedwith respect to the several embodiments of the invention shownin the drawings. a

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS.1-7, the fracturable' interlocking means is formedby a continuouscircular skirt consisting of a generally cylindrical tubular bodyportion 42 which:

depends from the underside of the cover member 39 concentrically thereofand extends throughv the central opening 32. Thebody portion 42 of theskirt terminates in ran out turned continuous flange portion or head, 45which interlockingly engages with the edge portion of, the capsurrounding the central opening 32, .The wall of the skirt is of agreater thickness atfcircumf-erentially spaced points to define lockingmembers 49 which in the present instance, project from the interiorsurface'of the skirt lengthwise thereof; and are equispaced from oneanother at three circumferentially spaced pointswhereby the bodyportion42 of the skirt and the bead 45' are the outer end.

7 skirt through the central opening 32 with the underside thicker at thelocking members. than the wall of the skirt intermediate the lockingmembers40. As shown,

the wall of the skirt adjacent the terminal edge 46 of the. capintermediate the locking members 40 is comparatively thin, permittingeasy tearing thereof while effectively seal-. ing the opening 32. Thethicker locking members 40* retain the cover member in engagement withthe cap,

insuring against inadvertent separation of the skirt and accidentaldisplacement of the cover member fromthe cap. In the present instance,the annular top. portion 33. of the, cap is provided with anintegralraisedrib portion 48 which terminates in a downwardlyextending'inner peripheral terminal edge 46 which grips the head andpresses it firmly against the stopper 12.

edge of the cover member which embraces the' cap in the manner shown inFIG. 2 so'that the top portion of the cap is snugly nested in the undersurface of the-cover member 39.

Prior to assembly of the cover inember 39 to the cap" 24, the covermember is ofthe form illustrated in FIG.

6a and includes as illustrated, a generally cylindrical tubular skirt 37of an external diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of thecentral opening 32in the cap 24.

The cover member 39 which'is preferably'of a plastic material isassembled to the cap. 24 by positioning the of the cover member 39engaging the top of the cap and thereafter engaging the free end of theskirt with a suitable die to form the out turned bead 45 and lockingmembers 40. The assembled cover member 39 and cap 24 may then be appliedto the bottle 10 by positioning it over thestopper 12 in the top of thebottle and crimping the flange 26 of the cap over the shoulder 29 belowthe Ii 20.

With reference to FIG. 7, the user may easily detach the cover member 39from 'the cap 24 to expose the stopper 12 when it is desired to withdrawthe contents of the bottle 10 by supporting the bottle in the palm ofthe hand and engaging the lip 49 of the cover with the tip of the thumb.Upon exerting an upward force on the cover member 39, it is priedupwardly with the portion thereof at 49a diametrically opposed from thepoint engaged by the user serving as the. fulcrum of a lever andsupporting the cover member 39 as the peripheral edge 46 of thestationary cap portion 33 causes separation ofthe body portion of theskirt from the bead. It is noted that the rib 48 serves to rigidifythetop of the cap to facilitate separation of the skirt and insureretention of the head 45 between the cap and stopper. The cover member39 may then be disposed of and the central portion of the stopper 12 maybe pierced by a syringe or the like to withdraw the contents of thebottle.

By this construction, the cover member 39 cannot be replaced once it hasbeen removed thereby providing a tamper-proof assembly. Further, it isnoted that there are no sharp edges produced during removal of the covermember 39 which may present a hazardto, the user. Moreover, the head 45which is retained between the cap and stopper serves as a seal toprevent dirt and foreign matterfrom entering and contaminating theinterior of the bottle between the plug 14 and theneck of the bottle.Additionally sincethe fingers of the user are remote from the exposedportion of the stopper 12 during removal of the cover member, .there isno likelihood of contaminating the sterile stopper of the bottle.

Another embodiment, of container closure inaccordance with the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The container closure asshown comprises a cap 50 of cup-like form including an annular topportion 55 and a raised rib 58 formed integrally therewith whichterminates in a downwardlyextending inner peripheral edge't) to define acentral opening 52.

A tamper-proof cover member 54 overlies the central opening 52 in thecap 50 and is detachably secured thereto by fracturable means whichinterlock the cover member and cap together. To this end the covermember 54 has a depending skirt 57 consisting of a generally cylindricalbody portion terminating in anout turned flange or head 66 adapted tointerlockingly engage with the terminal edge portion 60 and the terminaledge 64) of the cap is provided, in the present instance with threecircumferentially spaced cut out portions 62. By this arrangement, thewall of the skirt'adjacent the terminal edge 60 of the cap intermediatethe cut out portions 62 is very thin and the. Wallof the skirt at thecut out portions 62 is thicker, providing locking members 64 which holdthe cover to the cap. The cover member prior to assembly to the cap isof the form shown-in FIG. 6a and may be assembled to the cap in a mannersimilar to that described above, wherein by means of a suitable die thefree end of the skirt is upset or crimped over the terminal edge portionof the cap thereby'providing the thicker locking members 64 at the cutout portions 62.

V The cover member has a depending outer peripheral lip 59 so that itmay be removed from the cap in a manner similar to that described above.As in the previously described embodiment, the cover member 54 closelyembraces'the cap to provide a seal and the bead 66 which engages underthe edge 60 of the cap provides a supplemental seal preventing dirt andforeign matter from infiltering the interior of the bottle. Further theremoval of the cover member does not leave jagged edges on the cap andonce removed, the cover member is not replaceable thereby pr-oviding atamper-proof construction.

Another form of container closure in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. and 11. As shown, the container closurecomprises a cap 70 and a cover member 76 detachably secured thereto. Thecap and cover member are or" generally the same configuration andarrangement as the cover member and cap of the previously describedembodimet of FIGS. 8 and 9. The cap includes an outer annular topportion '72 having an integral raised rib 75 which terminates in adownwardly extending inner terminal edge 77 defining a central opening'73 and the cover member 76 includes a depending skirt 30 consisting ofa body portion 81 and an out turned flange or bead $2 engageable underthe inner terminal edge 77 of the cap. In the present instance, theinner peripheral edge 77 of the cap is crimped or bent back to provideindentations 78 at three circurnferentially spaced points so that whenthe skirt 80 of the cover member as which is of the form shown in FIG.6a prior to assem bly, is assembled to the cap in the same mannerdescribed above, the skirt 80 is thicker at the indentations 78 than atthe intermediate portions thereby providing locking members 79 whichserve to hold the cover member to the cap and which are fracturable uponactuation of the cover member relative to the cap to permit removal ofthe cover member.

As in the previously described embodiments the cover member serves as aseal and has an outer depending lip 84 to facilitate removal of thecover member from the cap in the manner described above. The bead 82similarly is retained between the cap and stopper after removal of thecover member to act as a supplemental seal and the assembly is tamperproof since the cover member is not replaceable once removed.

A further embodiment of container closure in accord ance with thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13.. The containerclosure as shown includes a cap 90 of cup-like form including an annulartop $2 having a central opening 94and a cover member 5 6 adapted to bedetachably secured to the cap over the opening 9 The annular portion 92has a raised rib $3 formed integrally therewith which terminates in adownwardly extending inner peripheral terminal edge 1% defining thecentral opening 94.

The cover member 96 is detachably secured to the cap by means offracturable locking means. In accordance with this embodiment of theinvention, the locking means comprises a continuous skirt including agenerally cylindricalv tubular body portion Hi2 depending centrally ol'the cover member terminating an out turned flange or beadltld whichengages under the terminal edge wt) of the cap. The wall of the skirtadjacent the peripheral edge 1% of the cap is of a predetermined uniformthick ness at the junction of the body portion 102 and bead 194 as at1431 to retain the cover member against accidental displacement withrespect to the cap during shipping and handling and is adapted to befractured along said juncture 161 by actuating the cover member withrespect to the capin a manner similar to that described above;

As in the previously described embodiments, the cover member closelyembraces the cap to provide a seal against infiltration of dirt andforeign matter between the cover member and cap and the bead MM isadapted to press against the stopper to provide a supplemental sealpreventing dirt and foreign matter from infiltrating to the stopper.Further, removal of the cover member does not leave jagged edges on thecap and the cover member once removed is not replaceable therebyproviding a tamperproof construction.

A further embodiment of container closure in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS 14-16 inclusive. The closure comprisesa cap and a cover member 112 detachably secured to the cap byfracturable locking means. The cap is of generally the sameconfiguration and arrangement as the cap of the embodiment of closureshown in FIGS. 1-7 and includes an outer annular portion 116 having anintegral raised rib 118 which terminates in a downwardly extending innerperipheral terminal edge 1% defining a central opening 121.

In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the fracturablelocking means detachably securing the cover member to the cap comprises,in the present instance, three locking fingers 11h depending from theunderside of the cover member 1312, each finger 119 having an out turnedterminal portion 124 which engages around the peripheral edge 12% andlies under the top. The locking fingers 11% serve to retain the covermember in place on the cap and upon actuation of the cover member withrespect to the cap are tracturable to permit removal therefrom. It isnoted that removal of the cover member does not leave jagged edges andas in the previously described embodiments, the cover member is notreplaceable thereby providing a tamperproof construction. The covermember has a depending outer peripheral lip 129 to provide a sealbetween the cover member and cap and also provide means for removing thecover member from the cap in a manner similar to that described above.

The cover member 112 is of the form illustrated in FIG. 17 prior toassembly wherein as shown, the locking fingers 119 project in a straightline direction from the underside or" the cover member to engage throughthe central opening 121 of the cap. By this construction the lockingfingers 119 may be bent back on assembly of the cover member and cap.

A still further embodiment of container closure in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 182l inclusive. The containerclosure comprises a cap 13% and a cover member 132 detachably secured tothe cap by means of fractura ble locking means. The cap i343 includes anannular top portion 134 having a central opening 136 therein and araised rib 138 which terminates in a downwardly extending innerperipheral edge Mt) to define a central opening 136. In accordance withthis embodiment of the invention, a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced radially inwardly directed slotted openings 146 is provided inthe annular top portion 134 of the cap adjacent to and radiallyoutwardly of the raised rib 133. The cover member 132 has a plurality oflocking fingers 148 depending from the underside thereof, each lockingfinger engaging through one of the slotted openmgs 146 and beingdisposed under the annular top of the cap. The locking fingers 148 serveto retain the cover member over the cap as illustrated in FIG. 18 andare fracturable to permit removal of the cover member from the cap uponactuation of the cover member with respect to the cap. The configurationof the cover member prior to assembly is illustrated in FIG. 20 and asshown, ineludes a generally cylindrical depending flexible skirt WlilCh,when pressed against the top of the cap upon assembly of the covermember to the cap, causes portions of the skirt to engage through theslotted openings 146 to provide the locking fingers 148 and causes thesections of the skirt intermediate the locking fingers to be displacedoutwardly to lie flush with the outer surface of the annular portion ofthe top as illustrated for example in FIG. 18.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides an improved container closure for pharmaceutical bottles whichis of one-piece, tamperproof construction and wherein the cover membermay be readily and easily removed when it is desired to gain access tothe contents of the bottle by a one-hand operation Without creating anyharmful rough edges during removal thereof. Moreover the containerclosure of thepresent invention providesan effective seal for thecontainer to safeguard the contents thereof from contamination. Further,the container closure is composed of relatively few parts which are ofsimplified construction and can be manufactured easily and economically.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it is'to be understood that changes and modificationsmay be incorporated therein within the scope of the following claims.

1. In a tamper-proof closure for pharmaceutical bottles or the like, acap including a top having an annular portion and a skirt depending fromthe outer periphery of the annular portion, said annular portionterminatingin an inner edge defining an opening in said top, a covermember overlying said opening, locking means depending from the covermember through said opening and engaging under the inner edge of saidannular portion to secure said cover member over said opening, saidlocking means being fracturable upon actuation of said cover member withrespect to the top to permit removal of the cover member from the capand prevent replacement of said cover member. 7

2. A container closure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said annularportion includes an integral raised rib surrounding said opening,said'rib terminating in a downwardly extending inner terminal edgedefining said opening. a

3. A container closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking meansincludes a flange providing an enlarged bead connected to the outer endof said locking means and engaging under said raised rib.

4. A container closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portionof said cover member extends radially outwardly beyond the peripheraledge of said annular portion.

5. A container closure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cover memberis generally disc-like having a continuous lip depending from its outerperipheral edge and wherein the cap is snugly. nestedin the undersurface of the cover member to preclude infiltration of foreign matterbetween the cap and cover member.

6. In a tamper-proof closure for pharmaceutical bottles or the like, acap including a top, means defining at least one opening in said top, acover member overlying said opening, a skirt depending from theunderside of said cover member projecting through said opening andincluding an out turned flange engaging under the top, said skirt beingrelatively thin and having thicker portions at I circumferentiallyspaced points to define locking mem-. bers to secure said cover memberto the cap, said locking members and skirt being fracturable uponactuation of said member with respect to the top to permit removal ofthe cover member from the cap and prevent replace flange engaging undersaid inner terminal edge, the wall of said skirt adjacent said terminaledge being thin intermediate said cutout portions and thicker at thecutout wares permit removal of said cover member from the cap andprevent replacement of said cover member. I

9. In a tamper-proof closurefor pharmaceutical bottles or'the like, acap including a top consisting of an outer portion terminating in aninnerv edge defining an opening in said top, means defining a pluralityof circumferentially spaced indentations in the innerterminal edge ofsaid outer portion, a cover member overlying said opening, a skirtdepending 'from'said cover member in cluding a body portion extendingthrough said opening and an out turned flange engaging under said innerterminal edge, the wall of said skirt adjacent said terminal edgebetween said indentations being thin and the wall of said skirt at saidindentations being thicker to provide locking members to secure saidcover member to the cap, said locking members and skirt beingfracturable' upon actuation of said cover member'with respect to the topto permit removal of the cover member from the cap and preventreplacement of said cover member.

10. In combination with a bottle and a stopper adapted to fit within theneck of the bottle, a tamper-proof closure comprising 'agcap adapted tohold said stopper in place in the bottle, said cap including a tophaving an annular portion overlying said stopper and a skirt dependingfrom the outer periphery of said annular portion, said annular portionterminating in an inner edge defining at least one opening in said top,a cover member overlying said opening, locking means depending from thecover through said opening and engaging between said stopper and saidtop to secure said cover member over the opening, said lockingmeansbeing fracturable upon actuation of said cover member with respect tothe top to permitremoval of said cover member from the cap and exposesaid stopper through said opening in the cap and prevent'replacement ofsaid cover member.,- I 11. The combination as claimed'in claim 10wherein I said cover member is of generally disc-like form and ex-"tends radially outwardly beyond the outer edge of said top, said covermember having a lip depending from the outer peripheral edge thereofsurrounding the cap whereby the cap is nested in the underside of saidcover member to provide a seal.

12. In combination with a bottle and a stopper adapted to fit within theneck of'the bottle, a'tamper-proof closure comprising a cap adapted tohold said stopper in place in the bottle, said cap including a topconsisting of an annular portion terminating in an inner edge definingan opening in said top, a flange depending from the outer peripheraledge of said annular portion adapted to secure said cap to said bottle,a cover member overlying said opening, a skirt depending from the coverincluding a body portion extending through said opening and an outturned flange providing an enlarged bead engaging under the innerperipheral edge of said annular portion, said inner peripheral edgeextending downwardly and adapted to seat said skirt against said stopperto provide an eifective seal, .a plurality of circumferentially spacedlocking members on said skirt, said locking members and skirt beingfracturable .upon actuationjof said, cover member with respect to thetop to permit removal ofthe cover member from the cap and preventreplacement of said cover member, removal of said cover member operableto separatethe body portion of said skirt from said bead and said beadbeing retained between said cap and said stopper to provide a sealtherebetween.

13. In a tamper-proof closure for pharmaceutical bottles orthe like, acap including a top portion terminating in an inner terminal edgedefining an opening in locking members and skirt being fracturable uponactuation of said cover member with respect to the top to said top, acover member overlying saidopening, a'skirt depending from the undersideof said cover member includinga body portion projecting through saidopening and an out turned flange engagingunder the top, the wall of saidskirt at the junction of said body portionand flange being adjacent saidterminal edge and beingof a predetermined uniform thickness and beingfracturable at said junction upon actuation of said cover member withrespect to the top to permit removal of the cover member from the capand prevent replacement of the cover member.

14. In a tamper-proof closure for pharmaceutical bottles or the like, -acap including a top, means defining an opening in said top, a covermember overlying said opening, a plurality of locking fingers dependingfrom said cover member, each of said locking fingers projecting throughsaid opening and including an out turned terminal portion engaging undersaid top, said locking fingers being fracturable upon actuation of saidcover member with respect to the top to permit removal of the covermember from the cap and prevent replacement of the cover member.

15. In a tamper-proof closure for pharmaceutical bottles or the like, acap including a top, means defining a plurality of slotted openings insaid top, a cover member overlying said top, a plurality of lockingfingers depending from the underside of said cover member, each of saidlocking fingers engaging through one of said open ings in said top andincluding an out turned terminal tip portion engaging under the top tosecure said cover member to said cap, said locking fingers beingfracturable upon actuation of said cover member with respect to the topto permit removal of the cover member from the cap and preventreplacement of said cover member.

16. A container closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking meansis formed integrally with said cover member and wherein said lockingmeans and cover memher are made from a plastic material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 749,423 1/ 04Chapman 21542 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiners.

1. IN A TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL BOTTLES OR THE LIKE, ACAP INCLUDING A TOP HAVING AN ANNULAR PORTION AND A SKIRT DEPENDING FROMTHE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE ANNULAR PORTION, SAID ANNULAR PORTIONTERMINATING IN AN INNER EDGE DEFINING AN OPENING IN SAID TOP, A COVERMEMBER OVERLYING SAID OPENING, LOCKNG MEANS DEPENDING FROM THE COVERMEMBER THROUGH SAID OPENING AND ENGAG-